By Bryan Autullo – FAST Public Relations: (Maumee, OH) With only two races in the books so far this season due to Mother Nature keeping temperatures down near freezing, the Kistler Racing Products FAST Championship Series will unleash the fury on Friday April 23rd at Attica Raceway Park for the first points event of the 2010 season. The intensity continues on Saturday April 24th for what will now be the Fremont Speedway season opener. Tim Shaffer won the first Northern Ohio event this season at Attica while last year’s FAST Series runner up, Byron Reed, dominated the invading All Star Circuit of Champions during the Coors Light Attica Spring Nationals. Reed has come out of the gates strong in 2010 with his eyes on the Kistler Cup Trophy. Reed battled with Craig Mintz throughout the second half of the 2009 season for the inaugural FAST Series title, but came up just 51 points shy as he capped off the season with a win at Fremont Speedway.
The 2010 season looks as if it will be as strong and as exciting as 2009 proved to be. With Reed, Mintz, Mike Linder, Brock Mayes, Chris Andrews, Scott Euler, Todd Heller, Brandon Martin, David Harrison, Brian Smith, Phil Gressman, Lee Jacobs, Jody Keegan, and Mark Keegan duking it out for the title there is no shortage of talent in FAST competition. Throw in the young guns looking to make their mark such as Bryan Sebetto, Travis Philo, Duane Zablocki, Kevin Lee, Shawn Valenti, and Cody White it is possible that a new star will shine as the season wears on. Other drivers who may be attending the majority of FAST Championship events include Randy Hannagan, Rob Chaney, John Ivy, Bruce Robenalt, Bryan Lay, Cole Duncan, Aaron Middaugh, and Caleb Helms. Fans will get their money’s worth on Friday and Saturday nights as the battle for the Kistler Cup rages on throughout the summer.
“I think we have one of the most talented groups of drivers in the country,” said series co-founder Chris Kettman. “As a fan, I enjoy coming to Attica and Fremont to see these guys as much as I enjoy going to Eldora for an Outlaws show or Williams Grove to see the PA Posse. The racing is always exceptional and the extra intensity of the FAST points chase just adds to the mix.”
The 2009 season saw Craig Mintz pocket the winner’s share of more than $60,000 in cash and prizes with cash and contingency awards going to the Top 10 drivers. Drivers who finished 11th through 20th also received contingency awards and were eligible for random drawings for other door prizes at the banquet. “We are putting up the same money again this year with $10,000 to win,” said series co-founder Scott Porter. “The money we pay out in addition to what both track point funds pay adds up to one of the richest payouts in the country for a weekly 410 sprint car racing program.”
The FAST Series also handed out several weekly certificates in 2009 to the Top 5 finishers, the B-main winner, the Hard Charger, the Tough Luck award and more. In 2010, even more sponsors have provided certificates to hand out on a weekly basis and those will be announced at a later date. “The amount of response we got during the off-season has been incredible,” Said Kettman. “I think in 2009 we showed what we are all about. In 2010 we don’t have to prove ourselves. We just have to continue to build on what we started last year. Lots of companies saw the value of what we are doing and wanted to get involved. We want to thank all of them for participating.”
Visit www.fastondirt.com to find out more about the F.A.S.T. Championship Series, the drivers, the rules, the schedule, the sponsors, and more.
FAST on Dirt, Inc. would like to thank the following contributors to the 2010 FAST Championship Series point fund:
Kistler Racing Products, Engine Pro, JE/SRP Pistons, Design Graphics Group, Inc, KS Sales & Service, Engler Machine & Tool, Oliver Rods, Henry MotorSports Inc., J&F Construction, Black Swamp Media Group, MyHeroCards.com, Kears Speed Shop, Computer Man, Inc., SCS Gearbox, RockAuto.com, Hoserville Ohio, Hoseheads.com, Level Performance, R&R Auto Wrecking, Reebar Diecasting, The King’s Den, FSR Radiator, Real Geese, Buckeye IT Services, High Vista Video, Racers Racing for a Cure, Gressman Powersports, NAPA (Bryan, OH), Gaerte Engines, Action Photos, PostNet (Fremont, OH), New York Life (Jeremy Shambaugh), Young’s RV Center, October Hills Farms, and OC Shocks
Also, a very special thanks to all of our contingency award sponsors:
R2C Filters, Hepfner Racing Products, TQ Fiberglass, Fuel Safe, Racing Optics, Rocket Headers, Wings Unlimited, VRP Shocks, Kinsler Injections, RAM Engineering Midwest, PRO Shocks, ButlerBuilt, Zemco Headers, Kinser Filters, Outerwears, Inc, DMI Race Components, Keizer Wheels, Linders Speed Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, XXX Race Components, Randy’s Racing Filters, Hinchman Indy Uniforms, King Racing Products, Golden Graphics, OC Shocks, Weld Wheels, KSE Steering, Competition Suspension, Inc, Ti22 Performance, All Pro Heads, FSR Radiator, Speed Meets Art, Productive Tools & Equipment, Goofy Golf, African Safari, and Ghostly Manor